The Meaning of John 14:20 Explained

John 14:20

KJV: At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you.

YLT: in that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you;

Darby: In that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you.

ASV: In that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

At  that  day  ye  shall know  that  I  [am] in  my  Father,  and  ye  in  me,  and I  in  you. 

What does John 14:20 Mean?

Verse Meaning

Jesus post-resurrection appearances would convince the Eleven of His deity. He described this condition as mutual abiding with the Father (cf. John 14:10-11). Moreover these appearances would also convince them of their union with Jesus. They would do so by confirming Jesus" promises of their union with Him ( John 14:13-14). Jesus expounded both abidings later ( John 14:23-24; ch17).
Some interpreters take the day in view as referring to Pentecost. [1] However because of the flow of the argument "that day" seems to refer to Easter rather than Pentecost.

Context Summary

John 14:12-24 - The Spirit Of Truth
There is no adequate translation for the word Paraclete. It may be rendered "interpreter," "comforter," "advocate," but no one word suffices. The Greek means "one whom you call to your side in the battle or law-court." His advent depends upon the praying Christ (I will pray the Father), and upon the praying Church (ye shall ask). The Holy Spirit must be a person, or He could not be compared as "another" to Christ. It is characteristic of this dispensation that He shall be in us, and His indwelling brings with it that of the Father and the Son.
"We will"¦ make our abode." That word abode is the same Greek word as is rendered mansions in the former part of this chapter. God prepares a mansion for those who believe in Christ, and asks in return that we shall prepare our hearts as guest chambers for Him to dwell in. As He enters the loving, cleansed, and believing heart, we hear Him say: "This is my rest for ever: here will I dwell; for I have desired it," Psalms 132:14. And what a word is that, my Father will love him. That He should love the world is wonderful, but that He should love us would be incredible, were He not infinite, and did He not see us in Jesus Christ our Lord. [source]

Chapter Summary: John 14

1  Jesus comforts his disciples with the hope of heaven;
5  professes himself the way, the truth, and the life, and one with the Father;
13  assures their prayers to be effectual;
15  requires obedience;
16  promises the Comforter;
27  and leaves his peace with them

Greek Commentary for John 14:20

In that day [εν εκεινηι τηι ημεραι]
The New Dispensation of the Holy Spirit, beginning with Christ‘s Resurrection and the Coming of the Holy Spirit at pentecost. Shall know Future middle of γινωσκω — ginōskō Chapter 1 to chapter 3 of Acts bear eloquent witness to these words. [source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for John 14:20

John 20:19 When therefore it was evening on that day [ουσης ουν οπσιας τηι ημεραι εκεινει]
Genitive absolute with οπσια — opsia John often uses this note of time (John 1:39; John 5:9; John 11:53; John 14:20; John 16:23, John 16:26). The addition of τηι μιαι σαββατων — tēi miāi sabbatōn (see John 20:1 for this use of μιαι — miāi like πρωτηι — prōtēi) proves that John is using Roman time, not Jewish, for here evening follows day instead of preceding it. When the doors were shut Genitive absolute again with perfect passive participle of κλειω — kleiō shut to keep the Jews out. News of the empty tomb had already spread (Matthew 28:11). See John 7:13 for the phrase “for fear of the Jews”; cf. John 12:42. Stood in the midst Second aorist (ingressive) active (intransitive) of ιστημι — histēmi “stepped into the midst.” Peace be unto you The usual oriental salutation as in John 20:21, John 20:26; Luke 24:36, here with probable reference to John 14:27 (Christ‘s legacy of peace). [source]
1 John 4:4 In you []
The Christian society. Compare John 6:56; John 14:20; John 15:4-10; John 17:23, John 17:26; Galatians 2:20(of the individual). [source]
1 John 4:4 Because [οτι]
The reason for the victory lies in God, who abides in them (1 John 3:20, 1 John 3:24; John 14:20; John 15:4.). God is greater than Satan, “he that is in the world” (ο εν τωι κοσμωι — ho en tōi kosmōi), the prince of this world (John 12:31; John 14:30), the god of this age (2 Corinthians 4:4), powerful as he seems. [source]
Revelation 3:20 He with me []
It is characteristic of John to note the sayings of Christ which express the reciprocal relations of Himself and His followers. See John 6:56; John 10:38; John 14:20; John 15:4, John 15:5; John 17:21, John 17:26. Compare John 14:23. [source]

What do the individual words in John 14:20 mean?

In that - day will know you that I [am] the Father of Me and Me and I you
ἐν ἐκείνῃ τῇ ἡμέρᾳ γνώσεσθε ὑμεῖς ὅτι ἐγὼ τῷ Πατρί μου καὶ ἐμοὶ κἀγὼ ὑμῖν

ἐκείνῃ  that 
Parse: Demonstrative Pronoun, Dative Feminine Singular
Root: ἐκεῖνος  
Sense: he, she it, etc.
τῇ  - 
Parse: Article, Dative Feminine Singular
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
ἡμέρᾳ  day 
Parse: Noun, Dative Feminine Singular
Root: ἡμέρα  
Sense: the day, used of the natural day, or the interval between sunrise and sunset, as distinguished from and contrasted with the night.
γνώσεσθε  will  know 
Parse: Verb, Future Indicative Middle, 2nd Person Plural
Root: γινώσκω  
Sense: to learn to know, come to know, get a knowledge of perceive, feel.
ὅτι  that 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: ὅτι  
Sense: that, because, since.
ἐγὼ  I  [am] 
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Nominative 1st Person Singular
Root: ἐγώ  
Sense: I, me, my.
Πατρί  Father 
Parse: Noun, Dative Masculine Singular
Root: προπάτωρ 
Sense: generator or male ancestor.
μου  of  Me 
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Genitive 1st Person Singular
Root: ἐγώ  
Sense: I, me, my.
ἐμοὶ  Me 
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Dative 1st Person Singular
Root: ἐγώ  
Sense: I, me, my.
κἀγὼ  and  I 
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Nominative 1st Person Singular
Root: κἀγώ  
Sense: and I.